AudioQuest’s new Niagara 3000 Low-Z Power/Noise Dissipation System ($2,999.95) offers what the company says is a comprehensive approach to AC power management grounded in science and representing over 20 years of research into AC power – effectively quashing noise contamination and current compression. It is being touted as a cost-effective option for both two-channel audio and custom installation applications.
The 3000 incorporates almost all of the technology used in the company’s Niagara Series linem says the company — including its patented AC Ground-Noise Dissipation System, Transient Power Correction, and extremely wide-bandwidth Level-X linear filtering — but at a more accessible price. Also among its features is non-sacrificial surge protection, which enables the component to withstand multiple AC surges and spikes up to 6000V/30000A.
The Niagara 3000 is smaller than the Niagaras 7000 and 5000, with rack-friendly dimensions (17.5” W x 3.45” H x 15.2” D; 24.9 lbs) and included 2-RU rack ears. It forgoes the 7000’s patented dielectric-biased symmetrical power isolation transformers; rather than the 90 amps peak current reserve available in the 5000 and 7000, the 3000 provides power amplifiers a current reservoir of over 55 amps peak (up to 25mS).
Finally, with a current capacity of 15 amps (RMS), the Niagara 3000 features two High-Current outlets and five Level-X linear filtered source AC outlets, whereas the larger Niagaras 5000 and 7000 offer four High-Current outlets and eight Level-X ultra-linear filtered outlets.
It does not ship with an AC power cable, so for optimized performance and proper ground-noise dissipation, the company recommends using AudioQuest AC power cables.
